John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Not as Orphans

Not as Orphans

Text: John 14:16-20
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

One of my favorite chapters is John 14 where Jesus is comforting His disciples before His death on the cross. He was giving them valuable information, which at the time, I doubt that they understood until much later on. However we, having the benefit of hindsight, can look at this and realize what a gift Jesus was giving.

But I wonder if we really, truly understand what Jesus was saying to his disciples and by extension, to us today?

1) I will ask the Father
Jesus himself will be interceding for us. This is not something we initiate. This is something God does for us. Just like our physical lives, our spiritual life is also in god's hands and in His control. This is how it should be. Your own experiences tell you this is right. What has happened to your life each and every time you have tried to control it? If you are like me, you've made a mess of things. it is only when I have yielded my life over to God that things started taking a turn for the better. Do not be too hasty to be captain of your own ship. Running upon rocks is far to easy to do.

2) he (The Father) will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.
This gift that Jesus will ask the Father for will be a) An advocate. One who will defend us. A barrister who will be with us whenever we are accused of something. He will defend us. His sole purpose it to b) help us when we cannot help ourselves. This defense will not cost us a dime. It is given freely by the Father because Jesus has asked for it. And importantly, c) (He will) be with you forever! This is a big deal! Not only do we have an advocate and helper free of charge, but He will be with us forever...not just until we die...God transcends that...it is forever. I take Jesus at His word. The Spirit of Truth will be with us...forever. We know this advocate as the Holy Spirit.

3) This gift is not for the world. It is for people who believe in Jesus.
Jesus was talking to his disciples whom he had chosen and who believed in his message. These were people who had an intimate relationship with him and whom he had given a mission to spread the Good News and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

4) Because I live, you also will live.
Jesus was talking about his death, burial and resurrection. Because He will live after His death, we will also live! Death has no hold over Jesus and neither will it conquer us. Because Jesus will live on, we will also live on. We are not certain how this will be, nor are we certain when this will be, but we can be certain that it WILL BE. I trust in Jesus. He has never lied. He is capable of bringing to pass, whatever promise He makes.

We who believe in Him today are included in this promise. We all have an intimate relationship with Jesus; we all are given the the Holy Spirit as a seal of our relationship and redemption; we are all given a mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus to all the world.

On that day, the day of our redemption, we realized that Jesus was in the Father and we are in Jesus and he is in us. In other words, all of us...God the Father, Jesus, the Hold Spirit and us...are related..forever...and ever...Amen!

I would strongly suggest you ponder these words that Jesus has left us. It is truly amazing information which will help you understand the unique relationship that you and I have with the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen?